Coal and Fans: The Incentive for Baseball Players in Las Tunas

The players from Las Tunas who stood out in the 64th National Baseball Series were “rewarded” with bags of charcoal, fans, and other basic items, during a performance evaluation event that sparked comments and irony on social media, as many interpreted it as a reflection of the daily struggles in Cuba.

The delivery took place during an event that also involved members of the technical staff and support personnel of the team, and was associated with representatives from the municipalities of Amancio, Colombia, Majibacoa, and Jesús Menéndez, noted as key players in those "incentives" awarded to the Leñadores.

The incident was reported on Facebook by the page Yoel al Strike, which informed about the emulation check and the type of items delivered to the players from Las Tunas.

The "reward" consisted of basic resources related to daily survival amid the energy crisis, such as coal and fans.

The situation occurs in a context of sustained blackouts and a constant search for alternatives to cook and cope with the heat.

In the province itself, a state sales point in Jobabo began to sell bundles of firewood as an alternative for cooking food, with images shared by journalist Yaidel Miguel Rodríguez Castro (Radio Cabaniguán) and an official price list posted at the location.

In that same vein, local authorities indicated to sell coal at 25 pesos per kilogram, although citizens reported that in areas such as La 40, the bag reached a price of one thousand pesos, an example of lack of control and speculation in the midst of a crisis.

A rationed distribution of gasoline was also mentioned in Jobabo for users of electric generators, limited to five liters for every 100 clients, through registration on a digital platform.

The sale of firewood and the type of "incentives" given to athletes have sparked outrage on social media due to what they symbolize: a country where the scarcity of energy and basic resources has led to the normalization of solutions typical of emergency situations.

Among the reactions mentioned, comparisons were made regarding the technological and social regression, with users lamenting that while other countries progress, in Cuba what is rewarded —or sold— are merely things that allow for cooking or ventilation during blackouts.